England hold on for dramatic victory over India in T20 thriller

England kept their hopes of a series comeback alive in breathtaking fashion on Saturday, securing a nail-biting five-run victory over India in an extraordinary third women’s T20 international at the Kia Oval. In a match that ebbed and flowed with relentless intensity, the hosts demonstrated immense composure in the dying overs to snatch a pivotal win, setting up a thrilling conclusion to the multi-format series. The packed Oval crowd was treated to a masterclass in T20 cricket, culminating in a finish that had everyone on the edge of their seats until the very last ball.

Having been put in to bat, England posted a competitive total of 167 for 6, thanks largely to a brilliant half-century from captain Heather Knight, who anchored the innings with a well-crafted 78 off 52 balls. Supported by crucial cameos from the middle order, including a quickfire 30 from Amy Jones, England built a platform that seemed challenging but not insurmountable on the Oval’s true surface. India’s bowlers, particularly Deepti Sharma, applied pressure at various stages, but England’s batters managed to accelerate effectively in the powerplay and death overs, ensuring a formidable target was set under the floodlights.